So, once again we have an armored truck/tank/SWAT vehicle patrolling a neighborhood, this time after break-ins.

One might argue that the presence of such a military-type is reassuring to residents who might currently be feeling a bit fearful. But it fits with
the militarization of the police force we are increasingly seeing.

Others, looking from outside the community bubble, might wonder why we are allowing--and comfortable with--an armored vehicle patrolling. It instantly
brings thoughts of "Police State" and "Oceania." Even "Freejack."

I had a conversation with a reporter several months ago when a story surfaced about the latest addition to a local PD's force--an armored
truck-tank--and brought up the same fact: we are not in a war zone. SWAT is one thing, but a freakin' tank is different.

And an armored vehicle PATROLLING is quite another.

If anything, it's the image that is key here. Just like the way police cars are becoming increasing menacing looking in order to intimidate, it
could be argued that these armored patrol vehicles, by their very nature intimidating-looking, will scare people into not committing crime. Once
again, Police State. Oceania. The intimidation factor of the ever-present eye that sees you while you don't see it. Blacked out windows, etc. Sure
beats the patrol vehicles of yesteryear...

Yet this is become a common occurrence that we are docilely accepting.

How long before this is an EVERYDAY occurrence?

We are slowly accepting it.

One day, it will become the norm, and all those people, years ago, because we are being frightened into begging for protection from inflated and
exaggerated threats.

Nothing to worry about! The progressive authoritarians are making sure that law abiding citizens have no means to protect themselves and I guess you
should be thankful that there are men with guns riding around your neighborhoods to make you feel safe?

By the way, the progressives are having a swingers rave at the airports. From what I hear the TSA is very willing to molest your wives and daughters,
whether they want it or not!

I saw on another thread where a fearful gun grabber called Americans who need guns pussies, hmmmmm, makes me wonder who the pussies really
are........

I really don't think it's about how it's a tank on the outside and capable of driving right through a single family residence in a single
Constitutional brain fart. Pardon my french.. lol I think in the case of where they're using it, that's about the worst aspect of it to their
thinking. It's sure giving them a ton of headaches that a nondescript oversize cargo van wouldn't.

I think it's what the article says and you'll never see them open up for that media crew. It's what's inside it. I hear rumors that some of those
look just about like a futuristic rolling computer center.

yeah my old apartment was in campbel ca and their police department had 3 bmp like vehicles that they would mob around in during last call and with
the crime rate being so low www.neighborhoodscout.com... the only thing i can think of them having them and justifying them is
the fact that all counties and cities that border san jose have agreements with the san jose police department that in event of riot or otherwise
bigger emergency then nessisary that all other police forces can be used in their area and vice versa

I am curious too, what could be inside. I mean, many polices cars (even here in GA) already have
license plate
scanners mounted to their cars, wherein they can scan a multitude of cars in just a few minutes while simply patrolling.

The camera alerts Officer Anthony to a silver Toyota. He tells the driver that his tags are coming back suspended.

The license readers can scan 1,800 plates a minute -- on cars going as fast as 150 mph.

It would no surprise me at all that these armored vehicles are also rolling command centers and information gathering devices. I mean, that armor has
to protect SOMETHING pretty valuable (and more than just the lives inside), right?

Wow, I JUST posted a thread about a woman shooting a burglar up there today and the NRA spreading the word about it. I would ask if it was related but
it has to be! The NRA turned that burglary into a national headline.

To show people don't need guns they put armored trucks in the streets!

Here is the thread I was talking about and it also talks about how that burglary story made NO sense.

If the police ever start patrolling my city in tanks I will raise the biggest group of small town hell raisers you have ever seen to march on
city hall! They supposedly can't afford to fix the pot holes, street lights and drainage around here, so if they start wasting our tax dollars on
assault vehicles you WILL see us on the national news!

Having been a member of an occupying army I can tell you from first hand experience. This is what an occupying army looks like exactly. Tanks on the
street when there is trouble so the state can show its muscles and might.

It is Atlanta though. I did some training there and I can tell you that the armor is likely a good idea for the cops in some neighborhoods. Gangsters
got Gats you know.

This content community relies on user-generated content from our member contributors. The opinions of our members are not those of site ownership who maintains strict editorial agnosticism and simply provides a collaborative venue for free expression.